Exercise, a good diet and proper diabetes care can help people with diabetes live longer and avoid complications from the disease. But one new study has dismal findings: Older diabetics have a shortened life expectancy compared to older adults without diabetes.

Diabetes shortens the life of a 50-year-old by 8-1/2 years, compared to a non-diabetic, according to an analysis of data from the University of Michigan’s Health and Retirement Study, a survey of more than 20,000 Americans over age 50. However, the gap among older diabetics closes as they age. Sixty-year-old diabetics live 5.4 fewer years; diabetics at 90 lose just one year.

The report says older diabetics are more likely to have other health problems, including heart disease, depression and disabilities that can impair normal activities.

The main cause of death among older diabetics is heart disease, say researchers.

About 7.8% of Americans, or 23.6 million people, have diabetes - although about 5.7 million don’t know they have it, according to the American Diabetes Assocation.

The report was commissioned by the National Academy on an Aging Society and was supported by Sanofi-Aventis U.S., a pharmaceutical company.

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